Summer's End

I know it's been a few weeks since I last posted. I hate myself for it, really, I do. Well, my summer with Habitat has ended. I absolutely loved my time there.

I am now at Georgetown. I just completed my second week, and I am loving it so much! I have already been presented with fantastic opportunities, and I am meeting amazing people. It is still hard to believe that this is my life!

Well, if you want to continue following me on my journey, please follow my blog on AmericansEmpowered.com! I won't be posting as frequently, cause my course load is insanely packed, but I will try to keep you up-to-date on my shenanigans!

Thanks everyone for the love!
Jeannie

Growing Pains

     If I had to describe this week in a couple of words, I would go with “tough love”. It has been a rough time in my life personally and professionally. I began the week with a tough encounter with my closest friend, which made me realize just how long you will hold back negative emotions to avoid hurting the people you love. Later, I found myself struggling to write my reflection paper because I really feel like I could make constructive suggestions for the organization, but I have been too outspoken in other jobs and it hasn’t served me well. Who am I to come in for twelve weeks and make suggestions? Is it just risk that stands little chance of paying off?

      All the while, I keep thinking about growth. William Butler Yeats said, “Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing.” I find this to be profoundly true in many aspects of my life. For example, the encounter with my friend is allowing us to move forward when my holding back had only rendered us stagnant. In my work, I have managed to burn a few bridges, but I’ve also prompted growth when I’ve spoken up. I certainly can’t say whether my suggestions will be beneficial, or if their implementation will be possible, but if I enter into the conversation with the growth of the organization in mind, I think that the staff will see that my intention is well placed. I’m optimistic!

     I simply must end this post with a quote from our Business Manager. “Life is an amorphous blob that is constantly changing ... But there will always be hot dogs.”

Weekend of Weird at the ReStore

This weekend is super weird at the ReStore! Check out some of the finds.

Remember these?

Perhaps the weirdest of all-- a riot mask!

Packing peanuts! So many pack peanuts!

And finally, bathtub row! so many terribly fantastic colors to choose from!

On that note, have a wonderful, weird weekend!

Youth- Wasted on No One.

Monday, I taught one of our homeownership classes. We have been revamping some of the classes, Conflict Management being one of them. Since I have a background in psychology and experience putting on workshops, the homeownership director decided that the first go at the new curriculum should be mine (let me express here my deep gratitude for the affiliate’s trust in my abilities). I prepared heartily and thought through every detail, but something about the night caught me off guard and left me pondering.

 This workshop stood in stark contrast to the type of classes I often teach. My background has been heavily focused on youth activists. I’ve had very little experience teaching adults, and I can’t say that I’ve ever been comfortable with it. It’s strange: I can have a room of 17-year-olds dancing like penguins in less than five minutes, but an hour in a room with adult strangers leaves me wringing my hands. This workshop did likewise. The evaluations came back to us very positive, but I had a very hard time getting them to talk. The workshop was formatted to be interactive, but my inability to coax out their participation left it unfulfilled in my eyes.

I’ve spent the last four days trying to put my finger on the differences between the youth and adults I find myself teaching. I’ve considered cultural and social circumstances and narrowed into psychological differences. For example, I find at the conferences I used to plan for WV SADD, the youth formed strong bonds, a sense of comradery almost instantly. They were all there for the same reason, with a common purpose. The partner families here at Habitat have a common purpose, but it is not a uniting one. They are all here to work toward their homes, but the result is individual.

In youth, I find the ultimate uniting characteristic is self-efficacy. Every young person I’ve ever worked with knew that they could impact the world. I think this spirit is something we try to re-instill in our partner families. Often they come to us feeling like life happened to them, like they lost control. Habitat helps them gain back some of that control, and hopefully some of that youthful zest as well.

So my question to you is this: do you feel like you have the power to change the world, or have you “out-grown” it?    

Presidential Legacy

Listening to the President's speech last week reminded me of something ...

After Robert C. Byrd's funeral, a group of people waited for President Obama to pass us in the motorcade. Two little African American girls were next to me, and when he passed, their faces filled with light. In that moment, I realized what Obama's Presidency really means in this country, that every child can truly feel represented. Agree or disagree with the policies he may pursue, but recognize that his mere presence in the public arena gives hope and power to children who never knew they could find it from Washington. 

You think that skin color shouldn't matter? This country has been known to elect Presidents due to a deeper voice or a more handsome face; to say that appearance doesn't matter anymore is a lie that ignores human nature.

Mitzi--- I'm looking at you!

We are deep into Summer! Don't forget to spend a day volunteering with Habitat! We are working Tuesdays through Saturdays! Sign up here at http://hfhkp.volunteerhub.com/Events/Index

Do it Mitzi and bring your sons!

=)

Jeannie

I Hope You're Happy

What initially comes to mind when you think of happiness and Habitat for Humanity? I’m guessing you picture a family moving into their new home, or maybe a smiling volunteer, hammering a nail on the job site. That is where my mind instantly goes, but what about the happiness of those behind the scenes?

Aristotle said, “Happiness is the ultimate end and purpose of human existence.” I am currently reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (and I highly recommend it), and thinking about happiness as a personal pursuit. When Rubin began her Happiness Project, she received backlash from friends who considered her project selfish. She even questioned if this was a worthy goal, and fell back on our friend Aristotle for absolution. In our work, we often find that our goal is the happiness of others. Indeed, providing shelter to those in need is worthy work, but the everyday tasks involved in this work may find us sacrificing our personal happiness for the cause.

“We must, therefore, pursue the things that make for happiness, seeing that when happiness is present, we have everything; but when it is absent, we do everything to possess it.”
― Epicurus

 Building and maintaining our personal happiness will only improve the work we perform in this internship and beyond, and while there is a lot to be said for finding happiness by making others happy, we greatly benefit by looking beyond our work and performing a happiness check-up on the rest of our  lives. I really encourage you to look at Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project website if you are interested in exploring this for yourself. Remarkably, her latest blog post is on healing professions and happiness!  

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

All you have to do…

* forgive my polemic of a post. I am frustrated, but I believe that what I'm saying is relevant and valuable.

How many painfully myopic statements have begun with “All you have to do…”? It’s amazing how everyone

can fix our political system; cure plights such as poverty, inequality, and disease; and put anyone’s life back on track simply by beginning a sentence this way. An example that is currently grating on me is the response my friends and partner are currently hearing regarding finding work. “All you have to do is more research… more follow-up phone calls… more applications...” More! More! More!

When we respond to problems with “all you have to do…” we deny the dignity of the problem. Regarding my previous example, simply stating that the person should do more denies the work they have put it. It blames the applicant for applications ignored and phones that don’t ring.  It also fails to sympathize- to see that unemployment is a terribly painful situation. It is an everyday reminder that you are unworthy of a place in the economy, in the world, whether these feelings are unfounded or not, they are very real.

This response also implies that you know better. It’s a complete condescension. It fuels division. It’s a conversation-stopper.  

My friends in affordable housing-- how many times have we told our clients “All you have to do…”? “All you have to do is stop drinking.” “All you have to do is follow my lead.” “All you have to do is try a little harder.” We know that we can’t provide the perfect solution in one step, yet this statement shifts our understanding to an overly simplistic, unrealistic facsimile of a complex issue.

Let us remember that the way we talk about an issue becomes the way we approach it, and that maintaining a “big picture” outlook can ultimately make us more sympathetic to our partners in problem-solving and can better equip us to handle the situation.  

It’s time to Out our Opinions

One day in college, I was chatting with a friend. In that way that college connections seem to arise, he told me that he had just had lunch with a woman in my Spanish class, and my name had come up. He said that she described me as “opinionated”. He saw no problem with this description. He knew better than most that I am incredibly opinionated. However, my female friend and I winced and giggled at the description. Girls, you get it. “Opinionated” in the world of ladies is synonymous with… well, allow me to be blunt… bitch.

Now, if I ever write an autobiography, I want it to be titled OPINIONATED (or opinion8ed… which will probably be typical for book titles by this time). It would be an honor to be remembered as opinionated. Now, this doesn't mean that I want to be perceived as a person that just has to be heard, even if I have nothing valuable to add. But let’s face it: opinions move us. They move the world.

I have worked with people-pleasers my entire life. These people only have one opinion: yours. Oh! They are frustrating, but boy do most people adore them. They provide the validation that so many seem to live on. I just know that most people-pleasers have valuable things to say, but they spend would-be constructive time nodding, smiling and back-patting.

I say it’s time for a revolution: down with people-pleasers! Opinions need their time, and everyone needs to demand a little time to be heard. I mean, say something of value. Think through your opinions. BUT BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE! 

Oh, and for those times when no one wants to listen, I recommend this article from Tiny Buddha. 

Missed Opportunities are a Figment of Your Imagination

This week at work, I am searching databases for grant opportunities with foundations. I am truly baffled at the number and variety of resources out there for funding and collaboration. There are so many passionate people out there!

This inspired me. After discussing it with my husband, I decided that I want to start a foundation in conjunction with my consulting work. We are still poor college students with very little to put aside, but we still give to worthy causes every year, so I realized that this could be an opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues and focus and track out efforts, even if they are small  in the beginning.

This spurred me to think about resources that I have in my life that I can utilize. It was not until very recently that I realized the importance of networking. I don’t know if there is anything more important to your success in any endeavor than having a strong network (by the way, I teach a program on that).

Let’s get to the point. I have a rich friend.

Five years ago, I stayed with her for a week while we planned a conference. I never wrote her a thank you card for welcoming me into her home, and as a result I always felt incredibly awkward about speaking with her. I haven’t spoken to her since I stayed wither her. I regretted failing to send that card for five years! With my new understanding of networking, I decided that it is never too late. I am writing her a letter tonight.

My friend calls herself a professional volunteer. She’s highly engaged in her causes and she would be the perfect donor to approach for my foundation. It’s funny that I never worked up the nerve to write her until I could find a purpose outside of myself. Now, it is not only less scary, but it’s necessary! And now that I have this new perspective, I am seeing that regretting this only harmed any relationship that I could have with this remarkable woman. She would never have known that I regretted not sending the card; I had to carry that alone.

I guess the moral of this story is that it’s never too late to take that chance that you missed. Regret is for people that aren't moving forward. Let’s be brave!

Mission-Slip: Why it’s a good thing… and how to stop it.

To any organization, but especially a non-profit, the mission statement is the foundation, the starting point, the basis of all work performed in the company’s name. Sometimes, though, the organization may find itself veering away from its mission— external and internal factors can spur this. For example, the March of Dimes was founded to fight Polio. Once the vaccine was created, the organization had to change its mission or become obsolete. Internally, mission-slip can occur when employees begin to see another side of the issue they are fighting. For example, an anti-drug organization may begin to emphasize the relationship between poverty and drug use, and want to incorporate poverty issues into their work.

Despite the mission being the core of the organization, slipping away is not a sign of weakness. In fact, internal mission-slip is a sign that your organization is thinking creatively about the problems it combats. No issue exists outside of its ecology. There are numerous factors that play into the work you do. Looking at the

issue from other angles can only make the organization stronger. It also means that your staff and volunteers don’t feel constrained. Creativity is the product of a free mind. A brain that is too concentrated or focused does not think creatively.

External mission-slip is rare, and more often speaks to outdated strategies, not an obsolete cause. If these concerns arise, they should be addressed. Be wary of staffers that hold on to old practices and causes simply to keep their job or avoid learning new things. This does not promote a healthy organization.

When you see mission-slip occurring, bring it to the larger organization, either to the staff, volunteers, or board. Discuss what one idea defines your everyday work. Welcome diverse, personal answers. Ask each person why they believe in their work. Ask them what word they most closely associate with the organization. Develop a phrase, word, or feeling that incorporates the answers of the group. Does the idea parallel the mission statement? Discuss if the mission is slipping toward this idea. If so, go forward with the project. If not, consider revising or ending the project.

These monthly meetings are vital to the health of the organization. If you’re not having them yet, get on it! If you are, make sure you are doing it right. Create a safe place for volunteers or staff to discuss their ideas. Don’t let these turn into the dry, stale check-ups that most offices know. Always have a reminder of the mission statement at these meetings. Either read or display it.

Finally, encourage this thinking—it is creativity! But always hold on to the idea that encompasses your organization; keep it close. All action should further the mission.     

Sometimes Success Tastes Like Dirt

The Mud Volleyball Tournament was a huge success! I knew it would be since we have such a dedicated, passionate, and giving staff. Seven teams formed from community groups and local businesses came out and splashed around in the mud for our cause. Everyone had a lot of fun and it really looked good for our organization.

In development, events are often hard to justify because they are time-consuming and often don’t produce a lot of revenue after all expenses are taken into account. However, events that run as smoothly as our tournament often boost the morale of the staff, increase visibility exponentially, and give the public a very positive association with your organization. Often, the $100/plate dinners that organizations put on to raise the big bucks simply don’t communicate the right message. For organizations like Habitat, Salt-of-the-Earth events like a mud volleyball tournament attract the perfect attention for the right reasons.

Enjoy these pictures from the event and have a great week doing great work! 

My puppy Macey even made it out!

Our Winners!

A crafty little bugger

The mud volleyball tournament is approaching quickly! Three days! I'm excited, and things are really coming together. Let's just hope no one asks me to play.

I don't know what it is, but I have been very crafty lately. I think it's probably Habitat and the restore's inspiration. I want to share some of my inventions!


Since pets are invited to the event, I made a puppy-poo bag dispenser. Wanted to show you because I'm proud of it:

Isn't that great?! I even laced the bags together so they pop-up as you pull, like tissues.

And even better, this is the clever sign that accompanies the baggies:

Hehe.

I also raided the ReStore to organize my desk:

Small things make me happy...

And finally, my photo frame invention:

Love it... 

Just wanted to share some of my crafties! Hope you enjoyed =)

Getting Personal Here at Habitat

This week, I have been plugging away at the Mud Volleyball tournament. Most of the preparation has involved making phone calls and booking various services. I spoke to a particularly enthusiastic shaved ice vendor.

As much as event planning and seeing it all come together excites me, it produces very little inspiration for a blog. Therefore, this week I have decided to introduce you to a vital member of our staff, Anne Plott, our Homeownership Director. She works very closely with the people that we serve, so I want to get inside her head to give us a better look at Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha-Putnam.

What brought you to Habitat?

A friend of mine called me and told me that she thought I’d like this job. I’m retired, 31 years from a bank, and was looking for a second career. I wanted to get into something that would be fulfilling; something that involved helping people. So this job was perfect for that.

Habitat focuses on a smaller level, intensively on just a few families at a time, as opposed to taking a widespread yet impersonal approach to affordable housing. What would you say to someone who was critical of this approach?

That’s an interesting question. With the individual families, we can take a focused approach. This is not a short process, we are talking six months to two years, and through that process, we almost become part of their family. So many people fall through the cracks with a more widespread model; it is far less likely to happen with the way we do things. We’ve built over 150 homes in the past 25 years, so it has obviously been successful.

What is common among the families with whom you are working?

They are all very enthusiastic and excited about the process. They are very positive.

A lot of folks don’t understand the process of getting a loan or managing their finances; something that many people take for granted. My background as a lender and branch manager has prepared me for that side of our process, with the added bonus of working closely with our families.  

What has surprised you the most about this job?

The atmosphere and the environment here is much different than my former work environment in the financial sector. I enjoy looking at the financials—I always have—but now I have the added bonus of working more directly with the public. Before, I needed to retire. Now, I am very happy to get up and come to work every morning. It’s a new lease on life.

I also continually learn about new opportunities and new ways that I can express myself. I’m a creative person, so it’s nice to be able to bring that to my work as well.

I would like to thank Anne for participating and thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about our work here. 

Have a great weekend!

It's never too late or too early to be whoever you want to be...

Get involved with Habitat for Humanity Kanawha-Putnam

When you think of Habitat, you think of volunteering on home builds.

Indeed, that is a fantastic way to get involved, but there are many other ways to contribute. Look for what fits your skills and personality. 

Volunteer at the Re-Store

Work on a Committee 

Committees include Family Selection, Family Support and ReStore Marketing. 

Volunteer at our mud volleyball tournament!

Donate!

Email me and ask about additional opportunities!

or call me at 304-720-0141 ex. 20

Don't hesitate!

We need volunteers for the mud volleyball tournament! I guarantee a funny time! 

Thought for Tuesday morning

"A painter or a composer, when they create a piece of art, they always sign their name... You produce in your daily life thinking, speech, and action... You cannot refuse to sign your name to your product... whether your speech is right or wrong, it bears your signature."
--Thich Naht Hanh on the Mindfulness of Anger

Meet Jasper

I parked my car this morning in the alleyway beside the office, uplifted by a piece I had just listened to on the radio and happy that I was 10 minutes early (I hate being late but always seem to be). On the road behind my car was a little green rock that was egg-shaped. I kicked it and stepped on it, of course; it could be a nasty, man-eating insect after all... or an egg, in which case it was very wrong to step on it. Anyway, I picked it up and this is what I found...

Her name is Jasper.

She's not a scary bug or egg. Just a rock that has been tumbled and shaped. I think it's Jasper, but I'm no geologist. Anyway, she's my little gift from the universe.

Jasper is used in Feng Shui to stimulate energy. It's Monday. The universe is a smart cookie. 

So, thank you, Universe. 

** Correction-- She's Malachite! This stone brings success in business, even better! 

Have you heard of Bike and Build?

Have you heard of Bike and Build? I had not until today. This job is so fascinating-- I find new branches of

the Habitat tree every day. It is so fulfilling to be involved with an organization that is so loved and so known. This is what running a sucessfull organization can do-- I know a few organizations that should take notes.

Anyway, Bike and Build is an organization that collects pledge gifts by biking across America and helping in affordable housing projects. They use the money to supply these projects with grants and "on the road donations". They helped Habitat of Kanwaha and Putnam last year on a home build and one of the bikers donated her money to us. It's largely youth driven, and the bikers are given discretion over where their pledge money goes. It is just really cool.

Check them out (and maybe donate!) here: http://www.bikeandbuild.org

Volunteer with Habitat Construction!

Many people have asked me to keep them updated on volunteer opportunities in the area. Construction at Habitat for Humanity Kanawha Putnam needs volunteers Tuesdays through Saturdays every week!
Don't hesitate to volunteer! They tell you exactly what they need here:
http://hfhkp.volunteerhub.com/Events/Index
Check out the event calendar and find the volunteer role right for you.

Once you find your role, create an account here: http://hfhkp.volunteerhub.com/UserRegistration/RegistrationWizard.aspx

Not ready to work on the construction team? No problem! Habitat welcomes many different types of volunteers. I'll be posting these throughout the week!

Get to know us at Habitat Kanawha Putnam!

Fundraising-- sales or service?

     Recently, I’ve noticed that a huge number of employers want people with sales experience, or have changed job titles like “waiter” or “cashier” to “salesperson”. We know that sales are the driving force in business, but there are many negative associations we make with the word “sales”. 

     When I sold insurance, for example, it was difficult for my clients to trust me. Salesmen in the past had taken advantage of them by selling them unnecessary products or using the complicated world of

insurance against them. It would make anyone weary, and even though I tried to be ethical in my work, I often went home feeling slimy.

   Sales left a bad taste in my mouth, and when I first began learning about fundraising for nonprofits, I was uneasy because I was associating many of the methods used with my time in sales. It seemed like more weaseling money out of people. It wasn’t until I became a donor myself that I realized that fundraising is nothing like sales.

    When you approach someone with the opportunity to give to your organization, you are providing them a surefire boost. A few years ago, I decided to ask my family for help in collecting money for some of my favorite causes instead of giving me presents for Christmas.  When I was able to give a significant amount of money to organizations I believed in, it felt amazing! I was instantly part of something much bigger than me, and I was able to have an impact on it!

     I was sold on giving, without ever feeling like someone was “selling” me giving.

     Fundraising professionals and volunteers work to give people that feeling. Obviously, the organization needs donations to continue running, but the uplifting feeling that donors receive from giving is really the product of the fundraisers work.

     The point is, I have been converted. Fundraisers are not salesmen. There is nothing slimy or underhanded about showing people the joys of giving. As long as your methods are ethical and your organization is worthy, fundraising can be beautiful work.

Advocate for Habitat! Here's How

Habitat for Humanity International has an advocacy branch that makes it easy for you to advocate for Habitat no matter how much time you have!

Check it out and get involved!

http://www.habitat.org/lc/gov/affreff/

Get Dirty with Habitat!

It's Habitat for Humanity's silver anniversary here in Kanawha and Putnam counties, but our celbration is far from polished!

Join us for our Mud Volleyball Tournament on June 15th!

Everyone is welcome to watch! But why spectate when you can play?! To set up a team or to become a sponsor call Ken Adams at 304-720-0141 ext. 16 or shoot him an e-mail at KenAdams@hfhkp.org  

We also need volunteers, so if you want to get involved, let me know! 

Get all the dirty details on the event by clicking here!

Hope to see you there!

A family makes a house a home, and a community makes …

As a part of my summer internship, I was given the unique opportunity to meet many of the passionate, fascinating people working in affordable housing organizations around West Virginia.

One word that was continuously thrown around was “self-sufficiency”. Indeed, the American Dream for many revolves around independence and stability. Affordable housing organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, help so many people achieve a vital part of that dream. The safety and stability of a self-sufficient life is the foundation upon which the American Dream is built.

But self-sufficiency seems to imply that it is achieved solo. We must remember that independence does not mean isolation. This is true on every economic level. No one achieved their American Dream without others. Every business needs investors and customers; every athlete needs a team and fans. This week the Urban Institute posted an article on loneliness as a public policy concern, stating that not only is loneliness a mental and physical health issue, but it also has detrimental economic effects. Isolation creates a viscous economic cycle. Those of us who are isolated from the larger economy are more likely never to find success within it (Take a look at the article here).

Successful affordable housing programs know this and maintain community building as vital to their missions. In fact, after meeting representatives from these organizations, I realize that they are community builders first and foremost. Their work depends on the volunteerism of engaged community members, and they unite economically isolated families with the community. At Habitat, future homeowners volunteer in our home builds, dedicating hundreds of hours of work to the organization. These organizations harvest citizenship and community engagement while providing for one of the nation’s most fundamental necessities.

 Let’s remember that independence is a worthy end, but that interdependence is the only means to achieving it. 

My first day at Habitat!

I'm so excited to begin my internship with Habitat for Humanity!

Here is my office. It has four walls, a door, and a skylight!

This is the first office I've ever had that was just mine! 

And of course I had to have my coffee!

I'm going to be posting some opportunities for you to become involved soon!

Thanks for following!

Jeannie

How much does it take to "get by" in America?

I found this article on MSN and wanted to share, since it is so relevant to my work with Habitat.

Follow the link here: http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2013/05/21/18380090-heres-how-much-americans-think-families-need-to-get-by?lite=

A "pick me up" for you... A "pick you up!"

In this cafe, the boosts are non-caffeinated. 

I made this, inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald. I now share it with you! 

It can be used as a Facebook header if you are so inclined. =)

Actually, here are a couple more facebook headers that are equally inspiring....

and my favorite...

Well, there you go!

Hey there! Welcome to my blog! In addition to my work with Americans Empowered, I will be interning with the Kanawha- Putnam, WV Habitat for Humanity this summer, beginning May 20.

Many people have asked me to keep them up-to-date with opportunities to volunteer, either with builds or other events this summer. Here is where I'll do that!

Thank you so much for following my summer.


Namaste,
Jeannie



If you come across this blog and would like updates, just shoot me an e-mail at JeanniesOffice@gmail.com.